Objectives: The Commission on Coastal Systems encourages the study of coastal systems throughout the world. The Commission sponsors and supports activities leading to the exchange of information regarding coastal systems among our members and throughout the IGU at large. The focus of attention is on interactive systems, both human and physical, and the areas of inquiry include issues such as sea-level rise, land-use changes, estuarine resources, coastal tourism and shoreline development, coastal recreation, and coastal zone management. The Commission will make concerted efforts to emphasize issues of Global Change.

MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR

PHOTO OF THE ISSUE

At Gima beach, on the western side of Okinawa Island, several coastal landforms are notable. The site is characterized by a beachrock slab lying between +40 cm and +100 cm, with a width of 20 m. Quarrying marks on the beachrock are extensive, particularly on the northern coastal part. The examination of thin sections revealed the presence of well-developed crystals of aragonite as the main bounding material, with lithoclasts, grains and many bioclasts. Two uplifted notches are also found at Gima beach. The lowest one is located at about +61 cm, with a height of 80 cm, while the upper one lies at +181 cm, having a similar height. All these landforms testify to an uplift trend in the area, similar to the rest of the Okinawa coastal zone.

Photo credit: Nikki Evelpidou, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (Greece).

Related article: Evelpidou, N., Kawasaki, S., Karkani, A., Spada, G., & Economou, G. (2019). Evolution of relative sea level in Okinawa (Japan) during Holocene. Geografia Fisica e Dinamica Quaternaria, 42(1), 3–16. https://doi.org/10.4461/GFDQ.2019.42.1

MEETINGS / SESSIONS SPONSORED OR CO-SPONSORED BY THE COMMISSION ON COASTAL SYSTEMS

The 35th International Geographical Congress will be held in Dublin, Ireland, from August 24th to 30th, 2024. The theme of this year's congress is ‘Celebrating a World of Difference’, and with roughly 3,000 participants from across the globe expected to attend, this week-long event provides the perfect opportunity to embrace and explore diverse perspectives. Attendees will have the opportunity to engage in a wide array of insightful sessions, field trips, and networking events.

The congress will showcase groundbreaking research and foster collaboration with the geographical community.

Find all the details below!

CCS-SPONSORED COASTAL SESSIONS [C.06 COASTAL SYSTEMS CONFERENCE TOPIC]

As outlined in January's newsletter, the Commission on Coastal Systems will sponsor four coastal sessions. With the release of the detailed congress program, we can now confirm that these sessions will take place at the following times and locations:

CCS-SPONSORED FIELD TRIP - DUBLIN BAY & IRELAND'S EAST COAST

In addition to the four coastal sessions above, a CCS-sponsored pre-congress coastal field trip will take place on Saturday, August 24th, 2024. This trip, organized by Prof. Iris Moeller (Trinity College Dublin), will introduce participants to an example of a bar-built estuary on Ireland's east coast, at Portrane, and to some of the low-lying coastal environments of Dublin Bay, at North Bull Island. This coast is both highly urbanised and protected under international and national nature conservation designations, offering a plethora of challenges for the 21st Century and beyond, as human pressures need to be negotiated around space required for nature.

This one-day excursion will run from approximately 09:00-17:00 and will have you back in time to attend the Opening Ceremony and Welcome Reception. Registration is still open, and the cost of attendance, including coach transport (to and from either TCD or DCU) and lunch at Bull Island, is only €30. For further information on how to register, please contact Jenny Clarke ([email protected]) or Iris Möller ([email protected]).

Item submitted by Jenny Clarke and Iris Möller.

REPORTS ON MEETINGS

The General Assembly 2024 of the European Geosciences Union (EGU) was held at the Austria Centre Vienna (ACV), and online, from 14th to 19th April, 2024. It welcomed close to 21,000 participants from 116 countries, and included almost 19,000 presentations distributed in 1,044 sessions. The EGU continues facilitating the presence of new researchers, with 57% of all abstracts identified as contributions from Early Career Scientists (EGU24 data).

The Commisson on Coastal Systems proudly sponsored two sessions, scheduled as part of the GM9 Coastal and Submarine Geomorphology sub-group. Find detailed reports below!

GM9.1 - COASTAL MORPHODYNAMICS: NEARSHORE, BEACH AND DUNES

The Coastal Morphodynamics session is now a well-established part of the EGU General Assembly, marking its seventh occurrence this year. It covered the study of coastal morphodynamics from nearshore regions to inland dune systems, which are essential for understanding coastal behaviour over both short and long terms. The session emphasized interactions between coastal dunes, beaches and nearshore areas, and their role in mitigating storm impacts through dynamic sediment interactions and rapid morphological changes. Understanding the complex interactions among these interconnected systems is crucial for comprehending overall coastal behaviour.

The session welcomed contributions from coastal scientists studying and modeling physical processes and responses across various spatial and temporal scales within the three sub-units of the coastal profile. This year's solicited speaker was Dr Mitchell Harley from UNSW, Australia, who presented ninety years of shoreline change at the iconic Narrabeen Beach (Sydney), covering a range of temporal scales from hours to decades. There was a total of 11 oral presentations covering a range of topics, including barrier dynamics, airflow modelling, and satellite-derived coastal products. Additionally, there were 12 contributions to the poster session, making it, as usual, a fantastic event for lively discussions and networking opportunities.

The session was organised by Irene Delgado-Fernandez (Spain), Emilia Guisado-Pintado (Spain), Susana Costas (Portugal), Melanie Biausque (Ireland), and Derek Jackson (UK).

GM9.2 - COASTAL LANDSCAPES: GEOMORPHOLOGICAL INTERACTIONS, HUMAN IMPACTS, AND ECOSYSTEM SERVICES

The EGU Coastal Landscapes session marked its debut by expanding the already well-established "Coastal Zone Geomorphological Interactions: Natural and Human-Induced Driving Factors" session. The focus was on understanding the dynamic interactions between natural processes and human activities in coastal zones. With coastal erosion becoming a signifciant issue over the past decades, discussions highlighted the role of various engineering projects (hard, soft, hybrid) in combating erosion and climate change, emphasizing the intricate dynamics shaping coastal landforms and coastline changes. Sponsored by the Commission on Coastal Systems, the session featured Dr Robert Young from Western Carolina University, USA, as the solicited speaker. It included two oral slots: the first on beach and nearshore morphodynamics and human impacts, and the second on dunes and human impacts. Out of the 20 scheduled oral presentations, 18 were delivered, with two withdrawn at the last moment. The on-site poster session was also a success, showcasing 11 posters.

The session was organized by Andreas Baas (UK), Glenn Strypsteen (Belgium), and Jan-Markus Homberger (The Netherlands), with additional conveners Michel Riksen (The Netherlands), Margarita Stancheva (Bulgaria), Riko Noormets (Norway), and Rosa Molina (Spain).

The next EGU General Assembly will be held on 27th April - 2nd May 2025 in Vienna, Austria. We look forward to welcoming you there!

Items submitted by Glenn Strypsteen (GM9.2) and Irene Delgado-Fernandez (GM9.1).

MEETINGS WITH COASTAL INTEREST

The Young Coastal Scientists & Engineers Conference (YCSEC) series bring together early-career researchers and practitioners, such as PhD students, postdoc researchers & recently qualified professionals, with expertise and interests in coastal environments. It provides a welcoming and supportive environment to present and discuss research and share good practice.

There are three branches of the conferences which are a great opportunity to interact with a small community of researchers. The 2024 meetings in the UK and the Americas took place in March and June (respectively).

The Australasia YCSEC is scheduled for 16th to 18th October, 2024, and registration is still open! Check out the details below.

The 10th edition of the Coastal Dynamics Conference will be held at the University of Aveiro in Portugal, from April 7-11, 2025. This international conference series is one of the most significant gatherings for scientists specializing in nearshore dynamics and coastal evolution. The inaugural edition took place in 1994 in Barcelona. Subsequent conferences have been hosted in Gdansk, Poland (1995); Plymouth, UK (1997); Lund, Sweden (2001); Barcelona, Spain (2005); Tokyo, Japan (2009); Arcachon, France (2013); Helsingør, Denmark (2017); and Delft, Netherlands (2021). The conference theme is "Living with a Dynamic Coast". Experts from around the globe will share their findings on a range of topics and methods, including field (remote and in-situ) observations, laboratory experiments, numerical simulations, coastal waves and currents, sediments and ecosystems, morphological changes in different environments, etc.

The conference includes the following three short courses:

• Coastal Resilience Assessment: Transfering the principles of ecological resilience to coastal geomorphic systems

• Incorporating Data Science and Climate in Coastal Engineering

• Coastal Restoration under Sea Level Rise

There will be field visits to various locations along the impressive Portuguese coast, as well as a variety of coastal topics.

For more information, please visit the conference website: https://coastaldynamics25.web.ua.pt/

The next Coastal Zone Canada Conference will be held in Charlottetown, Epekwitk (Prince Edward Island), Canada, from June 9 to June 11, 2025. This is Canada's national conference for coastal zone management, and organizers invite all professionals in the field to join them in advancing knowledge, best practices, and policy awareness.

The focus of the conference is relationships within coastal zones, emphasizing the importance of diverse and strong connections with land, water, ice, wildlife, and humans to build resilience. The event aims to elevate coastal zone management by bringing together engineers, scientists, youth, artists, planners, climate practitioners, community leaders, and more to foster understanding and collaboration.

The first call for abstracts will be in early fall. Stay tuned for updates via email and social media. For any questions in general, please contact: [email protected]

As in previous years, AGU's annual meeting—the largest gathering of Earth and space scientists in the world—will host a diverse range of attendees, including scientists, policymakers, journalists, and science communicators. The theme of AGU's next meeting is "What's Next for Science", and it will take place in Washington, D.C., USA, from 9 to 13 of December, 2024.

AGU offers various coastal-related sessions, including the following:

• Quaternary Sea Level: Chronologic and Stratigraphic Approaches to Mapping Changes and Cycles Across Space and Time

  Quaternary climate cycles are accompanied by significant changes in sea level that have profoundly shaped environments on the coast, coastal plain, and shelf. Some of the same drivers also affect spatial variability in modern sea-level rise. Investigating the timing and magnitude of past sea levels provides valuable information on the Earth’s response to modern and future changes. We invite abstracts exploring the range of observational and geochronological approaches to identify the magnitude and timing of past sea-level changes, as well as studies combining these empirical field and laboratory methods with modelling techniques. Studies of sea-level change from across the Quaternary—at scales from annual and centennial to glacial-interglacial—are invited. This session is organized as part of the WARMCOASTS project, which has received funding from the European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme (grant agreement no. 802414), and is a contribution to IGCP Project 725: Forecasting Coastal Change.

• Advances in Flood Prediction and Risk Assessment in Coastal, Inland and Transition Zones

  In light of the increasing demand for precise short-term predictions of common storm hazards and associated risks, including surges, waves, and tides, coupled with insights from inland hydrology, this session welcomes studies that focus on four major topics: 1) innovative techniques, exploring cutting-edge works at the intersection of machine learning, cloud computing, geospatial, and open-source tools for improved storm surge modeling and compound coastal flood prediction; 2) evaluating the role of stressors such as climate change, urbanization, and land cover scenarios, and quantification of associated uncertainties in compound flooding; 3) utilizing computational and mathematical methods to analyze and address uncertainties inherent in flood prediction; and 4) incorporating socio-economic impact assessments for coastal communities and economic infrastructure. This session aims to advance coastal flood assessment techniques through collaborative efforts among researchers and practitioners, aiming to deepen our understanding of coastal flood hazards and their implications.

• Advancing Predictions of Sea Level Variability and Associated Hazards Across Subseasonal to Interannual Timescales

  As coastal communities face escalating flood risk due to sea level rise, actionable information to help prepare for and mitigate impacts in the weeks to years ahead is becoming increasingly critical. This session will focus on understanding and predicting subseasonal to interannual sea level and coastal flood variability. We welcome submissions that consider observational and modeling aspects of sea level science and climate variability. Of particular interest are studies which discuss incorporation of observations, reanalyses, and numerical forecast models, or those that apply novel methods such as artificial intelligence, to improve sea level and coastal flooding predictions. Research that considers the quantification and understanding of processes that contribute to changing flood risk and impacts is also encouraged, including those ranging from high frequency (e.g. waves) to longer-term (e.g. ENSO) timescales. We also encourage submissions that focus on service delivery, public-facing products, user engagement, and communication efforts.

• Biogeochemical Processes in the Coastal Ocean

  The coastal ocean comprises diverse and dynamic shallow coastal ecosystems that are characterized by the interplay of processes driven by physical, biological and chemical oceanography, ecology and geomorphology. To gain insight from research fields related to these disciplines, and synthesize recent progress in science, we invite studies that focus on biogeochemical processes in shallow coastal ecosystems using diverse approaches. From subtidal (e.g., seagrass meadows, kelp forests, coral reefs) to intertidal ecosystems (e.g., saltmarshes, mangrove forests), we want to use this session to bring together diverse methodologies (e.g., numerical modeling, remote sensing, field observations, laboratory experiments) that advance our understanding of the complex processes occurring in shallow coastal regions. We strongly encourage studies investigating the impacts of climate change or other human-induced environmental changes and management strategies in shallow coastal ecosystems.

• Coastal Ocean and Shelf Seas Dynamics

  We invite submissions focused on studies of coastal ocean dynamics over a wide spectrum of scales, where the bathymetry and the coastline have a critical impact. Topics include wind-driven upwelling, coastal trapped waves, shelf-slope-interior ocean interactions, coastal current instabilities, tides and internal waves, river plumes, estuary-ocean exchange, boundary layer dynamics as they impact shelf circulation, sediment transport, and coupled atmosphere-ice-ocean applications in the coastal seas. Papers emphasizing the role of coastal ocean physics on biogeochemical oceanic variability are also welcome. Approaches may include a range of methods including analytical, observational, and both idealized and realistic numerical model simulations. This science session recognizes the enduring impact that professor John S. Allen made on our field.

• Coastlines and People: Convergence Science between Coastal Sustainability, Human Dimensions, and Coastal Processes

  Coastal environments undergo constant transformations shaped by terrestrial, oceanic, and atmospheric forces and human systems. With increasing anthropogenic pressures, populations in coastal areas are increasingly adversely affected by these changes, especially through the degradation of infrastructure including housing, transportation, water supply, and electricity generation and distribution due to extreme weather events, sea-level rise, coastal flooding, algal blooms, and tectonic hazards. As the processes of population change, infrastructure decision-making and environmental changes along coasts are complex and impacts inequitably distributed, convergent scientific research is critical for identifying, predicting, and responding to risk and fostering inclusive solutions. This session invites contributions that explore methodologies, approaches, successes, and challenges for co-creating coastal research with stakeholders and local communities. We welcome studies on science-informed climate adaptation pathways, holistic Earth Systems approaches, and other efforts that support the understanding of the origins, dynamics, and processes that affect coastal environments and people.

• Emerging Frontiers in Coastal Dynamics: Integrating Observations and Advanced Models

  Coastal environments pose intricate challenges for modeling physical processes. Conventional Earth system models often simplify these complexities, leading to various approximations and omissions, resulting in inaccurate predictions of extreme events. This session addresses the need for improved modeling and observational approaches to understand processes driving flooding, erosion, infrastructure damage, and water contamination, enhancing our comprehension of coastal change. This year's focus is on research showcasing storm-driven phenomena such as sea swell, storm surge, infragravity waves, tsunamis and compound flooding. Contributions employing numerical models (coupled/standalone) and observations to reveal underlying physics are encouraged. The focus is on coupled model development for Earth system interactions, capturing physics across scales with variable-resolution/nested modeling, and conducting integrated modeling and observational analysis of coastal dynamics affected by sea-level rise, flooding, and waves. Insights from past efforts and discussions on advancing modeling and measurements, community collaboration and coupling with Earth system models are welcome.

• Improved observing and modeling systems for understanding of tropical cyclones and winter storms and their impacts in the coastal zone

  Storms can dramatically modify hydrography and circulation, potentially shifting the trajectory of seasonal conditions and/or contributing to subsequent compound events. Thus, the impacts of storm events can be direct (e.g., storm surge) or indirect (i.e., changes to background conditions). Furthermore, feedbacks between the coastal ocean and storm systems can lead significant changes in storm characteristics. Tropical cyclones fueled by warm water can rapidly intensify even on a continental shelf. Storm conditions present practical challenges to ocean observing and modeling which limit our understanding of their compound effect on coastal and estuarine systems. Therefore, reliable observation systems need to be developed in conjunction with advanced warning modeling systems.
  This session serves as a forum to share knowledge of storm systems in coastal environments. Research topics include but not limited to: coastal ocean observing and numerical modeling systems, feedbacks and impacts of storms on coastal systems, and evaluation of their ecological dynamics.

• Modeling Coastal Marsh Resilience: Advancements, Uncertainties, and Sustainable Solutions

  Coastal marsh environments are vital interfaces linking human communities and ecological systems that offer numerous ecosystem services and protective benefits against erosion, storm surge, and sea-level rise (SLR). However, uncertainty exists regarding how marshes will respond to future rates of SLR, which could intensify coastal inundation frequency, shoreline erosion, and wetland loss. Our understanding of future marsh conditions with SLR has improved with integrative modeling approaches, combining hydro-morphodynamic, ecological, and biological interactions. Despite improvement, further advancements are necessary to better describe future marsh conditions and meet end user needs. This session aims to provide a platform for sharing cutting-edge research and fostering interdisciplinary collaboration focused on modeling coastal wetlands and marshes. We seek contributions that advance our understanding of marsh and wetland dynamics through innovative modeling approaches that are capable of informing effective management decisions that take into account climate change impacts.

• Nearshore Processes

  The nearshore region is the transition zone from the subaerial beach to the deep ocean. This region spans different dynamic regimes with varying roles and interactions of waves, wind, tides, buoyancy, morphology, and structures. The vulnerability of the coast to sea level rise, extreme storms, and anthropogenic influences is a major societal concern. We invite abstracts on physical processes occurring in the nearshore, including: surface and internal wave dynamics, wind-, wave-, and tide-driven circulation, extreme events in nearshore and river integrated systems, mixing and turbulence, buoyancy-driven flows, interactions between regional-scale and surf zone hydrodynamics, sediment transport and morphologic evolution, object mobility and transport, and flow-structure interactions in nearshore regions. We welcome abstracts describing field observations, numerical and laboratory modeling, theoretical analysis, model-data assimilation, and projects co-developed with stakeholders. Nearshore Processes is an established and well-attended session. Student participation is strongly encouraged.

• Sediment Processes on Estuaries and Shelves & Their Impact on Morphology, Biogeochemistry, and Ecology

  Sediment erosion, transport and deposition in shallow marine environments shape morphology and the stratigraphic record, as well as biogeochemistry and ecology. On short timescales, sediment transport occurs via mechanisms including suspension and fluid muds, and varies with tides, storms and other drivers. On longer timescales, factors such as geologic setting and climate impact sedimentary processes. Understanding these processes is particularly important in shallow marine systems, which typically have tight benthic-pelagic coupling. On short timescales, for example, seabed fluxes and transport of particle-associated organic matter impact biogeochemistry and organisms. Over longer timescales, morphology and seabed texture impact habitats and the fate of carbon, nutrients, and pollutants. This session encourages abstracts on sedimentary processes over a range of spatiotemporal scales, and/or their impact on morphological, geological, biogeochemical and ecological processes. Submissions may focus on estuaries, shelves, wetlands, and/or any coastal or nearshore environment, and use observational, experimental, modeling, or other approaches.

• The Impact of Climate Change and Human Activities on Carbon Sequestration in Coastal Wetlands and Strategies for Carbon Sink Enhancement

  Coastal wetlands represent some of the Earth's richest carbon sinks, storing vast amounts of carbon within their soils and vegetation. However, climate change and human activities have altered the processes of physics, chemistry and biology that created many uncertainties in the carbon sequestration potential of these ecosystems. To address these complex issues, this session brings together a diverse group of scientists to explore a wide range of topics, including biological, ecological, geochemical, geological, and theoretical factors that influence carbon sequestration in these regions. Through collaborative discussions, participants will identify the most pressing challenges and propose strategies to enhance the carbon sink capacity of coastal wetlands. This session offers a unique opportunity to share insights into the impact of climate change and human activities on Ocean Negative Carbon Emissions (ONCE), will develop comprehensive assessments and actionable recommendations to guide policymakers and governmental agencies like the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).erosion, transport and deposition in shallow marine environments.

• Coastal Monitoring with Earth Observing Satellites

  Coastlines are dynamic landscapes that change at a range of different spatial scales and at timescales of hours to millennia. Until recently, coastal monitoring capabilities often fell short of providing data at a relevant rate and breadth. Earth-observing satellites have enabled multiscale monitoring of coastal change over the past four decades by providing global imagery with regular, and increasingly higher spatial and temporal resolutions. Combined with recent advances in machine learning, cloud computing, and data assimilation, Earth-observing satellites now offer coastal scientists and engineers large volumes of data that can inform sustainable coastal management and future adaptation strategies, bringing coastal geosciences into an era of big data. This session seeks abstracts on monitoring, analyzing, and predicting coastal change using satellite observations. We welcome investigations from diverse physical environments, using or improving upon a variety of satellite-observation techniques, and applied to understanding or modelling past, present or future coastal change.

HIGHLIGHTS & FEATURES

Obituary by David R Green – Department of Geography (University of Aberdeen)

Professor Ritchie was a previous Head of the Department of Geography at the University of Aberdeen, and later provided academic leadership to the University of Aberdeen as Vice-Principal from 1989 and then as Senior Vice-Principal from 1992 until his move to the University of Lancaster where he was Vice-Chancellor from 1995 to 2002.

For over forty years Professor Ritchie made a major contribution to the understanding of the physical geography of the Scottish coastline. He also published over 40 papers relating to the oil and gas industry (predominantly oil spill preparedness, monitoring programs and regulatory compliance). His expertise was recognised both at home and internationally. Amongst his many achievements, he chaired the public enquiry into the environmental impact of the Braer oil spill in Shetland and undertook academic research at Louisiana State University with the Louisiana Geological Survey into coastal dunes and coastal erosion of the Louisiana shoreline. He also worked with Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH [now NatureScot]) and the World Maritime University.
During the 1960s and 1970s, Bill was commissioned by the then Nature Conservancy Council to undertake a study called the ‘Beaches of Scotland’. The results of this study were published as a series of 20+ separate reports and are now regarded as classics. As a result of a recent MASTS initiative around 1500 photographic slides taken over 50 years ago by Professor Ritchie for these reports are now being digitised and published online.

Between 1980 and 2012, Bill held several positions within SOTEAG (Shetland Oil Terminal Environmental Advisory Group) a group that monitors and advises operators (BP, Shell, and the Shetland Islands Council) on the assessment of oil pollution risks and consequences at the port and oil terminal at Sullom Voe, Shetland.

Professor Ritchie was also Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Sites of Special and Scientific Interest for the Scottish Executive, a member of the Fulbright Commission, and Vice-President of the Royal Scottish Geographical Society (RSGS).

Among his many achievements at Aberdeen University was the establishment of the Aberdeen Institute for Coastal Sciences and Management (AICSM) in 2002, and a BSc Degree Programme in Marine Resource Management (MRM).

He was elected a Fellow of The Royal Society of Edinburgh in 1982 and in 1994 he was awarded an OBE for services to higher education.

Professor William Ritchie will be remembered by many as a valued colleague, friend, and scientist, and an inspiring University leader both at home and internationally. Bill was always a true gentleman, a diplomat, and has left us all with a wonderful legacy in all aspects of his life.

Item submitted by David R. Green

The Future Earth Coasts (FEC) 'Tour de Coasts' survey has been officially launched. Organizers are reaching out to seek your help in spreading the word about participating in this global initiative. The survey is directed at coastal colleagues, peers, and contacts involved or interested in coastal sustainability. Please consider sharing the information within your network through email, social media, or other communication channels.

This unique initiative aims at fostering meaningful engagement and creating a comprehensive understanding of coastal sustainability worldwide.

For further information: https://www.futureearthcoasts.org/future-earth-coasts-tour-de-coasts/

Item submitted by Shifang Meng, FEC IPO China

The Geo for Good Impact Awards honor individuals and organizations creating real-world impact using Google’s mapping tools. Dr. Dhritiraj Sengupta, a CCS Steering Committee Member, has utilized Google Earth Engine to quantify large-scale coastal land reclamation, such as the Palm Jumeirah, estimating a global loss of over 1,000 km² of marine habitat since the 1990s. This research enhances understanding of the challenges presented by new coastlines.

Upon receiving the award, Dr. Sengupta expressed his excitement:

Congratulations, Dhriti, on your excellent work and well-deserved award!

The Aberdeen Institute for Coastal Science and Management (AICSM) was recently awarded a NERC Quadrat Research Experience Placements Internship for a period of ten weeks in the Summer of 2024. Supervised by David R. Green and Dmitri Mauquoy in the Department of Geography at the University of Aberdeen, Mariia Topol, who is originally from the Ukraine, was the successful applicant.

To date, Mariia has been very busy working on this coastal project entitled: Monitoring, Mapping and Modelling Coastal Erosion of Golf Courses: Ground Control for Drone Image Acquisition. The purpose of this project is to further develop and enhance the existing and ongoing coastal monitoring project for a golf course in Aberdeen. Whilst the monitoring and mapping of several coastal golf courses in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland has been active for the past 5 years with the help of three AICSM drone pilots, the current focus of the project is on the Royal Aberdeen Golf Course which is currently developing a long-term plan for their golf course in light of the impacts of climate change.

Overall the project will: (a) involve the student developing an overview and understanding of coastal erosion, drone data collection, softcopy photogrammetric data processing, and the derivation of spatial information for analysis and input to a Geographic Information System (GIS; (b) the practical use of an RTK GPS system to survey in Ground Control Points (GCPs) at the study site to improve accuracy of measurements; (c) the input of the data into a GIS database for geo-visualisation, spatial analysis, and visual communication including the use of ESRI Storymap and webGIS software and; (d) the design and creation of a scientific poster to aid in raising awareness and education about the impacts of coastal erosion.

Aside from studying the UAV monitoring work that has already been carried out to date, researching the scientific literature, arranging meetings with a local Coastal Engineer – Ray Lawrenson (Siskin Asset Management), who just happens to be a keen golfer, Mariia is now working with the drone pilots to look into the positioning and layout of a network of new ground control points (GCPs) for the study site as a basis for more detailed drone surveys in the future. At the end of the internship, Mariia will present some of the work she has been doing in the form of a report, poster, and storymap.

Item submitted by David R Green & Dmitri Mauquoy, AICSM – University of Aberdeen

Check out the GeoVT project by clicking on top of the image below and watching the short video. It features an example of a virtual field trip in coastal geomorphology. The standout aspect of the GeoTV project is the authoring tool, which is freely available for use by colleagues worldwide. By promoting this tool, the coastal community can easily create and share virtual field trips, benefiting researchers and educators globally.

the GeoVT Project is co-funded by the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union.

The GeoVT project is led by Professor Nikki Evelpidou, Faculty of Geology and Geoenvironment, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece. Prof. Evelpidou is also developing a platform with virtual field trips based on maps, many of tehm on coastal environments.

Check it out here!: https://geovirtualfieldtrips.com/

Item submitted by Nikki Evelpidou, NK University of Athens.

Have you explored the wealth of resources available on the Commission on Coastal Systems website? These encompass diverse datasets spanning world population statistics, engaging podcasts, connections to various coastal associations, an array of informative videos, and community-driven initiatives. There's a wide spectrum of valuable content waiting for you!

We kindly ask for your assistance in sharing this newsletter with individuals you think might find its content valuable. This newsletter will be sent out twice a year, predominantly via email. We encourage you to forward this edition to contacts in your coastal network and invite them to subscribe by clicking on the link below.